Larry Shenk, Vice President of Alumni Relations, shares his notes, quotes and anecdotes from the world of baseball.

36 over .500!

Two shutouts and two games in which shutouts were lost in the last of the ninth are among the eight wins on this 10-gme road trip that ends Wednesday afternoon in Dodger Stadium.

Cliff again was something special. First and third in the first inning and no outs. As great pitchers do, no runs scored. Ryan allowed a run in the bottom of the last inning but picked up his 20th save.

Larry Andersen relayed a comment Cliff made before the game. On the bus ride to Dodger Stadium, mention was made that only three players have ever hit a home run out of that ballpark. LA said, “Cliff chimed in, ‘I’m gonna be the fourth.’” The second run which eventually became the winning run, came from his bat, his second home run of the season. It didn’t travel out of Dodger Stadium but into the right field bleachers.

Phillies are now 36 games over .500. Their last time at that level: end of 1977 season, 101-61.

Phil-Ins
Phillies starters have won 56 games, which is more than 14 different teams . . . . Phillies are ranked No. 1 in the ESPN power rankings and the MLB.com power rankings . . . Thanks to David Hill for posting his comment about the sham of Shane’s suspension. The more I think of it, the more disturbed I get that no Giants were suspended. Oh, well, time to move on.

Down On the Farm
Trailing, 6-5, Lehigh Valley scored 6 in the top of the 9th for an 11-6 win at Durham. RHR Michael Schwimer had his 2nd blown save and wound up the winner,8-1 for the season. 3B Carlos Rivero, promoted from Reading a week ago, snapped a 1-for-21 spell last night with a double, triple and 3 RBI . . . Reading lost, 5-4, to Bowie. RHS Austin Hyatt had his shortest outing of his career, 4 runs in .2 innings . . . Clearwater and Gulf Coast League Phillies were rained out . . . Lakewood was not scheduled . . . Williamsport was a 1-0 winner over Staten Island on 3B Harold Martinez’ walk-off single with two out in the bottom of the ninth. LHS Bryan Morgan, 0 runs, 3 hits, 5 innings.

Alumni Views
What changes would you like to see in Major League Baseball is a question posed to Phillies Alumni.

Dennis Bennett (LHP, 1962-64)
“I think they should do away with the DH and get back to playing the game. They make too much of the pitch count. In one game Spann and Marichal, two starting pitchers, threw over 225 pitches apiece and it did not hurt their careers. Also put in the player contracts that if they have a sub-par year their salaries will be adjusted.”

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